Welney news

Godwits flock to incredible wetlands

Godwits flock to incredible wetlands

Black-tailed godwit flock by Nigel Cooke Visitors can enjoy stunning aerial displays as thousands of black-tailed godwits from Iceland make WWT Welney their winter refuge. These flocks of godwits undertake the same mi

21 December 2015

Wildlife photography gallery

Wildlife photography gallery

Hares boxing by David Featherbe Looking for that last minute gift for someone before Christmas and unsure of what to get?  Why not spend a day with us enjoying a swan feed or a hare walk and take home a David Feather

20 December 2015

Christmas opening

Christmas opening

Hare by David Featherbe Christmas is a busy time of year for us at WWT Welney, with wildlife and visitors.  The only day of the year we are closed is Christmas Day.  We have an evening feed as normal on Christmas Ev

15 December 2015

Swan count

Swan count

Bewick's swans family by David Featherbe Dawn swan count: WWT Welney Whooper swans - 2684 Bewick's swans - 933 Ouse Washes total Whooper swans - 5284 Bewick's swans - 1009 Staff and volunteers came in before dawn to c

8 December 2015

Reserve access

Reserve access

Swan feed by Roger Rawson small Water levels are creeping up on the reserve at present.  Over the weekend we might have to close the summer walk and the dragonfly ponds if this continues.  Access to all the hides sh

4 December 2015

Hares provide knock-out entertainment

Hares provide knock-out entertainment

Hares boxing by Simon Stirrup WWT Welney wetland centre is giving more opportunities to get closer to hares this winter. Just as the barn owl is seen as the iconic Fenland bird, the hare is the mammalian equivalent. P

1 December 2015

Wimble makes a welcome return

Wimble makes a welcome return

Wimble's first appearance of the winter Wimble the whooper swan has arrived at WWT Welney Wetland Centre, having now clocked over 40,000 air miles during her lifetime. She is at least 17 years old and has made the mig

25 November 2015

Swans get their supper in style

Swans get their supper in style

Dafila feeding the swans by Adam Finch Hundreds of wild swans had a special treat at WWT Welney Wetland Centre on Friday night as they were fed their evening meal by Dafila Scott. Special guests including the Deputy M

2 November 2015

Swan numbers increasing

Swan numbers increasing

Whooper swan by Nigel Cooke After a count of the swans at Welney this morning we now have over 1,000 whooper swans.  Bewick's swan numbers have not increased yet, we need some cold, Easterly winds for that!  Brrrr!

29 October 2015

Lyle hide closed - Wed 28 October

Lyle hide closed - Wed 28 October

Lyle hide will be closed tomorrow (Wed 28 October) whilst there are some management works carried out along the access path to that hide. All other hides are open.  This work won't affect the swan feed at 3.30pm and all other areas of the reserve are ope

27 October 2015

We'll be watching BBC Autumnwatch at Caerlaverock, will you?

We'll be watching BBC Autumnwatch at Caerlaverock, will you?

The Autumnwatch presenters by Jo Charlesworth Staff and volunteers from WWT Welney are excited that fellow site, WWT Caerlaverock, will welcome the BBC Autumnwatch team to Scotland, from 2-5 November 2015. Many of the

20 October 2015

Swan count

Swan count

Whoopers at Friends hide Whooper swan - 493 Bewick's swan - 15 The swans are roosting right in front of the hides at the moment, providing excellent views as they wake up and take to the skies in the morning.  Our fi

19 October 2015

Swan numbers increasing

Swan numbers increasing

Bewick's swans at Friends Hide Despite some early fog this morning, there was plenty of noise on the reserve.  There are now at least 300 whooper swans and there were 10 Bewick's swans right in front of Friends hide.

18 October 2015

Disturbance to the main lagoon

Disturbance to the main lagoon

Tomorrow (Thurs 15 October) there will be disturbance on our main lagoon as we remove some machinery.  We apologise for any inconvenience this main cause to this are of the reserve.  All other hides, ponds and summer walk will be disturbance free.

14 October 2015

Swans blown in on winter winds

Swans blown in on winter winds

Bewick's swans by Richard Dunn The first two Bewick’s swans of autumn arrived at WWT Welney Wetland Centre yesterday - after a record arrival at Slimbridge Wetland Centre in Gloucestershire - adding to speculation t

14 October 2015